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Group discusses future of PEDCO sales tax

PUEBLO - A group of community leaders are discussing the future of the PEDCO half-cent sales tax. At a meeting in Rawlings Library this morning, they discussed what changes, if any, need to be made to the ballot language before asking voters to renew the tax next year.

The ad hoc meeting was organized by Pueblo business woman and incoming PECDO chair Barb Vidmar.

The discussion ranged from the education and skill set of Pueblo workers to limits on city leaders when spending the money. However, many of the participants expressed concerns about infrastructure needs like beautifying the city for visitors an prospective employers and practical improvements such as expanding high-speed internet access and upgrading roads and sewers systems.

"I thought it was wonderful," Vidmar said of the meeting. "I thought there was a lot of pent up positive energy of people that just really want to see us grow and prosper."

The participants all showed interest in getting together for another round of talks soon. The current tax expires December 31, 2016 and Vidmar wants to ask voters to extend it for another 5 years in November of 2015.